Okay, it’s a small world on a six-day trip, but Justin Fleck treated his 28 Excel anglers to about all that was within reach before returning to Fisherman’s Landing September 3. First, the group fished albacore with good success. The Fleck spent some time at Guadalupe Island, where adventures were numerous and fishing on yellowfin of a better grade produced the jackpot winners. Fleck also fished at Cedros Island for quality yellowtail and then gave his fishermen a shot of excellent rockfishing.

The trip was the 5th Patrick Gallagher Open. Gallagher lives in Ventura and was chartermaster.

“We fished offshore in choppy weather for albacore,” wrote Justin August 29, “and saw many wonderful large schools. It was an amazing experience. We ended up with about 60 albacore for the day and did get to see an awesome show put on by a few whales that were feeding right in the middle of the fish. We are headed to Guadalupe now that we have all our permits and will be trying for some trophy yellowfin and some quality yellows.”

On the 31st, he wrote, “We fished a half a day at the island and were able to boat 14 tuna and 25 good grade yellows. Once again we were taxed heavily. We took off just after lunch and are now headed toward Cedros. The weather is very nice.”

September 1 prompted this report: “Today was just what we needed; great fishing on big yellows at a beautiful island. We arrived early and were greeted by aggressive yellows. They were crashing around the boat and eating the surface iron like crazy. What a fun day. Tomorrow we will finish up our trip on the beach.”

Back at the docks, Greg Sharpe of Newbury Park won first place for a 53-pound yellowfin. He said it came on a sardine and a 4/0 ringed Super Mutu hook, tied to 40-pound Izorline on a Torium 30 reel and a 765 L Calstar rod.

Ed Tschernoscha of San Pedro won second place for a 51-pound tuna, and Bernie Milligan of Ventura was third for a 48-pound Guadalupe Island yellowfin.

“Lots of Fish”

“We saw an awful lot of fish out there on the albacore grounds,” said Sam Patella after docking his American Angler September 3, “but they didn’t want to bite very well.”

The five-day trip with 25 passengers produced a decent catch of albacore anyway, judging by the fish on the Point Loma Sportfishing Landing pad.

Nobe Takasaki of Parlier had the best longfin, a 38.6-pounder. He said he enticed it with a sardine on a 2/0 ringed Mustad hook tied to 30-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon leader and 30-pound Izorline. Nobe used a Trinidad 30 reel and a Calstar 700 M rod.

Tim Ebner of Atwater won second place for a 36-pound albacore, and Andy Smith of Santa Barbara got third place for a 35.8-pound albie.

Albacore All September

Mike Keating docked his Spirit of Adventure at H&M Landing September 3 after a five-day trip Bear’s Tackle charter with 25 anglers, including chartermaster Charlie Bear.

“They don’t bite good all the time,” Mike noted, “but the albacore took another little move and we’re seeing them as close as 50 miles again. The way it’s set up, I think they’ll be with us all September.”

Keating fished Cedros Island as well, where anglers got big yellowtail. At least one white seabass was caught there on an iron jig, and rockfish were also caught at an inshore stop.

John Roffoni of Shell Beach won first place for a 31.4-pound yellowtail. He said he bagged it with a green mackerel on a 6/0 Super Mutu hook. He used 40-pound Ande line on an Avet JX reel and a Calstar 870 rod.

Figuratively breathing down Roffoni’s neck, Bill Sturm of Yucaipa won second place for a 31.2-pound yellow, and Paul Domingos slipped into third place with a 31-pound yellowtail.

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